WANGANUI MARKET REPORT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19367, 25 July 1925, Page 8

WANGANUI MARKET REPORT.

Business during the wook received a i set-back owing to the continued wet j weather. Shipping has also suffered as I a result of the rain anil deliveries have i been delayed as a consequence. The chief feature of the local mar- ' kots during the past week has boon the sensational rise in the price of pota- : toes. GROCERIES. BRUNKS. The present carry-over of prunes isj only about half of what was left in ' California at this time last year. In' the United Kingdom the present low prices of Californian prunes have ap-• parently stimulated consumption to a ! considerable extent, and as a result ! England has been a steady buyer of ’ practically all sizes, but particularly . 70-80’s. Even France has started pur- I chasing quite a few prunes in California, mostly 70-80’s, ami 80-90’s, dueprobably to very conservative buying ; earlier in the season, and the fact that , the growing French crop is reported as' having been damaged, and' the output ; will, therefore, at best be limited. The ' bulk of prunes loft in California is held . by the Growers’ Association, which recently made arrangements with the independent packers whereby this surplus I will be marketed at uniform prices. CEYLON TEA. At the usual weekly sale held in [ Colombo on the 15th inst., 2.500,0001 b. was offered for sale. Quality was good, ' improvement in the up country sorts i being particularly noticeable. The re suit of the sale was a further all-round i upward movement, with all buyers operating, London buying very freely, j Exchange rules now at 1/6 .13-32, the | advance of all grades being on an aver- , age of Id to Id per lb. all round. CANNED EliL'IT. Latest advices received from Califor- ' nian canners show another rise, th<* j total advances on all varieties since opening rates were announced three weeks ago being as follows: Standards, apricots 4d. yellow free peaches Bd, and yellow <ding and sliced clings 6d per dozen; seconds, apricots and pears fid. . yellow free poaches 1 . yellow cling peaches lOd, and sliced'cling peaches 9d per dozen. RAISINS. American prices opened at about present rates for old season’s, but advances on all varieties of now pack have been notified in the last few days. NUTMEGS. Last lists show small increases on the previous week’s price quotations. In dent rates are now so high that at present costs wholesalers could not sell to the retail under 3s per lb. Information reepixed from producing centres advises supplies scarce, and that as fresh supplies have been very small, suppliers are inclined to hold off mean time and to quote higher prices when approached. On the other hand, buyers generally appear unwilling to pay present values, and as a consequence little or no business is being done at present. GENERAL DRAPERY. Business this week ha.s again been confined to hand to mouth wants and even the sales seem to have run their usual course. Despite the weather a fair amount of now season's goods is being displayed ami from all accounts the coming fashions will be far removed from the usual ‘‘drabness. ” Colours, in all contrasts, are to be the vogue, millinery and dress goods showing great advances in bright shades. Some attempt will shortly be made to popularise shopping at the Quay end of the Avenue, where eight new shops will shortly be available. The local warehouses have already started on their new season’s goods and millinery and frocks arc being displayed. The goods certainly are more “summery" than the weather. THE WOOLLEN MARKET. As predicted in Bradford wool figures have eased slightly and apparently the Bradford estimate that the selling prices of tops was much under the statistical position was quite correct. Even now Bradford still expects wool to go a little lower and by November the local sales will give us definite information as to what wool-growers and manufacturers may expect. To-day’s rates are fully a third under last January’s—which were abnormal—and manufacturers are doing their best to stimulate business based on present day prices. A difference of 5 per cent, in wages

has temporary upset the Home spinning trad<’ and unless this is quickly settled the woollen trade is bound to suffer still more. Apart from knitted outerwear lines Home inakers-up are not being rushed with business, which is too spasmodic to give a trading margin. Locally prices in blankets, wool, etc., have been reduced to figures of a year ago, but retailers are only buying actual immediate wants so that no volume of business is apparent. THE COTTON TRADE. Our exchange to hand by this week’s mail indicates a little uneasiness in the market regarding American crop prospects and the usual crop of rumours liolds sway. The visible supply of the j old crop is being rapidly depleted at a much greater rate than last year, and despite the continued intermittent buying makers-up are not holding too much stock. Some manufacturers have been accepting unremuncrativc prices for .some time past in order to keep machinery engaged, but it is anticipated

this period is almost at an end and slight advances may be looked for. Artificial silk in all its phases is still gaining in popularity and where manufacturers are producing seasonable lines the demand is quite encouraging and business is fairly brisk. The proposed tax on artificial silk (raw) may give this section a set-back, but owing to the vast number of lines into which ‘rayon’ is introduced, the industry will pick up again later on even though slightly enhanced prices may prevail. BUILDING. Although this is the slack season of the year a good deal of activity is reported. Several large contracts are under way in the city, while in the suburbs even the wintry weather is not preventing the erection of small dwellings in timber. HARDWARE. IRON AND STEEL. British advices make the market very dull, with sellers all anxious for orders. Consumers, however, are apparently only covering for bare necessities. The position of the iron and steel trade in Scotland is disappointing, new business being of very small volume. Pigiron demand is poor, and the supplies in makers’ hands are increasing. Steel consumers show no readiness to place orders, but galvanised sheet makers are fairly busy, and are holding out for full figures, while waggon builders have received fresh contracts for rolling stock for the London, Midland and Scottish railway. The general conditions in most Continental iron and steel ! markets are far from encouraging. Prices continue to fall, and in Belgium the position is regarded with anxiety by makers, who assert that a i very low price level has been reached, ami who fear that in consequence some i curtailment of output will have to be undertaken. Sales of finished materials are poor, though India has been a I buyer of joists, and some linos of merchant steel have been done for Japan. I Foundry pig-iron prices are stationary iin France. It is believed that iron 'masters had contemplated an increase [in their fixed price, but the unsatisfacjtorv state of business throughout Eu- ' rope seems to have dissuaded them from ! such a course. Finished iron ami .steel is dull, and not only is demand ;quiet on the home market, but increasjing competition is being felt on the export markets. PRODUCE. Dairy Produce.—The London butter market is firm and New Zealand is 3s higher at 190 s; Danish is 2s lower at 1925. Cheese is also firm and 2s higher at 108 s to 109 s for white or coloured. Frozen Meat. —The lamb market is ■•weak. Light rules 11 3-8 d to lljd, and heavy 9}d to 9 7-Bd. Mutton is weaker, with moderate demand; light rules 7Ad 'to 7Jd. and heavy G 1-8 d to Gjd. Beef is in poor demand at, 5,| for hinds and <l for fores. Pork rules Ski. Sheepskins. —At London sales prices advanced sto 10 per cent. Merinos range lOd to ISd. lino crossbred 11 Ad Io js.ld, medium and coarse 9d to Did i short ami shorn. 7kl to 12d. lambs, 12d i to Itikl. . Tallow. —London prices are 2s highci with good demand. Fine mutton rules 48s 6d to 495; good beef, 48s to 48s !6d; and good mixed 475. Wool.—London wool sales continue i fairly animated, but lately reported •rates are hardly maintained for the 'finest descriptions. All other descrip 'tions rather lower. We think Contin lent have filled many of their orders af | they arc not buying so freely.

LOCAL PRICES Prices are quoted locally for the un- i dermentioned lines as follows: — ( Feed barley, 6s 6d per buehcl. 1 Algerian oats (machine dressed), 6s ! Gd per bushel. Garton oats, 5s 9d per bushel. Fowl wheat, 9s 6d to 10s per bushel. Tares, 12s Gd per bushel. Feed Maize, 8s 6d per bushel. Cocksfoot (Danish) Is 2d. Standard Akaroa, Is 3d. i Perennial ryegrass,, 8s 6d. i Italian ryegrass, Bs. , i Western wolths, 7s 6d. f Alsyke, Is 3d per lb. ■ Danthonia pilosa, 2s 6d per lb. ! Red clover (imported), Is 4d. Whftc clover. 2s Gd. I Trefoil, lOd per lb. I Timothy, Is per lb. ■rested dogstail, Is 3d per lb. ■ Poa pratensis, 2s per lb. Chaff. Blenheim. £lO per ton.